A freakishly powerful storm knocked out power, blew down trees, and wreaked havoc just as Bangkok was heading into Friday evening rush hour traffic.
Skies darkened by gathering clouds throughout the afternoon exploded with fierce, gusting winds that paralyzed traffic on road and highway, shut down transit hubs due to flooding and stranded commuters as they headed home.
Across town, traffic was immediately snarled along Rama IX, Rama IV, Tiwanon, Krung Thon Buri, Pradit Manutham, Phaya Thai, and Kaset Nawamin roads, according to reports on traffic news agency JS100.
Numerous people reported losing power temporarily.
Two trees fell on the outbound side of the Bang Na-Trat Road, blocking multiple lanes of traffic at a U-turn bridge heading to Central Bang Na. The Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal was inundated by serious flooding, with floodwaters said to surge…
